Endrick (footballer, born 2006)

Endrick Felipe Moreira de Sousa (born 21 July 2006), known as Endrick, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a striker for La Liga club Real Madrid and the Brazil national team. He is considered as one of the most promising and best youngsters in the world.

Early life
Endrick was born in Taguatinga, Federal District, and has one brother and two sisters. His father, Douglas de Sousa Silva Ramos, pursued a career in professional football and left his family when Endrick was eleven years old to play for several small clubs in Brasília. His mother was unemployed and homeless during that time, forcing Endrick and his siblings to reside in an orphanage at São Paulo until his father returned after six months. Both his parents worked at a cafe on the city's underground train station before his father received employment by Palmeiras as a janitor.

Endrick started playing football at the age of four, and his father published his goals on YouTube to attract interested parties among the big Brazilian clubs. Endrick vowed to become a professional footballer to help his family after his parents were unable to feed him. At the age of eight, he trained in a Real Madrid camp with his friends at Águas Claras; he grew up supporting Real Madrid and idolised Cristiano Ronaldo. He was also inspired by other Brazilians who played for Madrid such as Ronaldo, Vinícius Jr., Rodrygo and Éder Militão.

Palmeiras
After nearly signing for São Paulo, Endrick joined the Palmeiras youth team at the age of 11. In the next five years, he would score 165 goals in 169 games for Palmeiras youth teams. Endrick participated in the 2022 Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior, where he scored eight goals in seven matches and was voted Player of the Tournament by supporters, after leading Palmeiras to their first title. Following the tournament, he caught the attention of international media and several major European clubs.

Endrick made his senior professional debut on 6 October 2022, coming on as a second-half substitute in Palmeiras' 4–0 league win over Coritiba. At the age of 16 years, two months and 16 days, he became the youngest player to appear for the Palmeiras first team. He scored his first two goals on 25 October, in a 3–1 win over Athletico Paranaense, becoming the second youngest goalscorer in the history of Brazil's Série A. Endrick then achieved his first trophy with the first team, winning the league with three games in hand following a 4–0 home win over Fortaleza on 2 November. He scored his third goal in seven appearances during the match as Palmeiras secured an eleventh league title in club history. At the end of the season, Endrick was voted the most promising player in the Série A.

On 11 October 2023, Endrick was named by English newspaper The Guardian as one of the best talents born in 2006 worldwide. After experiencing an extensive goal-drought throughout the season, Endrick scored two goals and added an assist on 1 November in a 4–3 comeback win against Botafogo at the Estádio Olímpico Nilton Santos. Palmeiras moved three points behind Botafogo, who were then first in the table. Palmeiras won their second consecutive league title, after Endrick scored a goal in a 1–1 draw to Cruzeiro on 6 December, two points above second-place Grêmio. He finished the season with eleven goals, the second highest scored in a Serie A season by an under-18 player behind Ronaldo.

On 16 May 2024, Endrick was forced to leave the field on a stretcher due to an apparent right leg injury during Palmeiras' clash against Independiente del Valle in a Copa Libertadores group stage match, and he was subject to further medical tests.

Real Madrid
On 15 December 2022, La Liga club Real Madrid announced that they had reached an agreement with Palmeiras, Endrick, and his family to sign him in July 2024, when he turned 18. The official signing fee was undisclosed by the clubs, but was reported as an extendable three-year deal for a fixed amount of €60 million plus €12 million in taxes. However, some other sources reported the fee was fixed at €35 million, with the remaining €25 million subject to achieving specific sporting objectives.

Youth career
On 18 March 2022, Endrick was called up to the Brazilian national under-17 team to compete in the 2022 edition of the Montaigu Tournament in France. With five goals in four matches, including one against Argentina in the final, Endrick finished as the top scorer and was named best player of the tournament, as Brazil won their first Montaigu Tournament title since 1984.

Endrick was initially included in Brazil's under-20 squad for the 2023 South American Youth Championship in Colombia. However, as his club Palmeiras elected not to release him, he would ultimately not be a part of Brazil's title-winning team; Palmeiras did not want Endrick to miss the start of their pre-season, which overlapped with the tournament's January and February timeframe.

Endrick was selected for the Brazil national under-23 team to participate in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. On 23 January 2024, he marked his debut by scoring the only goal in a Pre-Olympic match against Bolivia, securing a 1–0 victory for his team.

Senior career
Endrick was selected for the Brazil national team for the first time on 6 November 2023, to participate in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina. He became the youngest male player to secure a senior call-up since Ronaldo in 1994. On his debut against Colombia, Endrick became the fourth all-time youngest player, and youngest in 57 years, to make his debut for Brazil. His side fell to a 2–1 defeat at the Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez as Colombia achieved their first qualifier victory over Brazil in their history.

Endrick scored his first goal for Brazil in a friendly against England at Wembley Stadium on 23 March 2024, making him the youngest player to score for club or country at the ground. He scored his second goal for his nation three days later in a 3–3 draw to Spain. On 10 May, Endrick was called up for Brazil to participate in the 2024 Copa América. After three sub appearances in the group stage, Endrick made his first start for Brazil, replacing Vinícius Júnior who was suspended, in a quarter-final defeat to Uruguay. He completed one pass during the match, from kick-off, as his side loss 4–2 in the penalty shoot-out.

Style of play
A left-footed forward with a good shot, Endrick is considered one of Brazil's best football prospects,  and has drawn comparisons with legendary Brazilian strikers Ronaldo, Pelé, and Romário. Endrick has rejected comparisons of his ability to Brazilian legends and particularly towards Pelé. When asked to describe his style of play, Endrick said, "I'll always fight. I'll be persistent and try until the last minute I'm in the game. I never give up, I pressure defenders, I run more than anyone else on the pitch." His father has stated that the footballer has been inspired by Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo.

International

 * Scores and results list Brazil's goal tally first.

Honours
Palmeiras
 * Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 2022, 2023
 * Supercopa do Brasil: 2023
 * Campeonato Paulista: 2023, 2024

Individual
 * Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior Player of the Tournament: 2022
 * Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Best Newcomer: 2022
 * Samba Gold Best Brazilian under-20 player of the year: 2022
 * IFFHS Men's World Youth (U20) Team: 2023
 * Troféu Mesa Redonda Best Left Winger: 2023
 * Campeonato Paulista Best Player: 2024
 * Campeonato Paulista Team of the Year: 2024